Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Wins Funding for Smokeless Tobacco Study

Buffalo, NY - Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has received a $2.1M National Institutes of Health grant to assess smokers' interest in smokeless tobacco products. Richard O'Connor, PhD, of the Health Behavior Department at Roswell Park, is the principal investigator.

The smokeless tobacco products being studied include chews, powders, dissolvable tablets and other products. Most are marketed to smokers for use in situations where they are unable to smoke, such as indoors in public settings. The study will assess whether current smokers use such smokeless products only as a substitute for cigarette smoking or if they are willing to switch completely from cigarettes to smokeless tobacco.

“These studies can help provide important information when the Food and Drug Administration considers claims about potentially 'modified risk' products,” noted Dr. O'Connor. The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Roswell Park, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit Roswell Park's website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org.

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